Chiral conducting polymers

Abstract

This critical review describes the preparation and properties of a relatively new class of chiral macromolecules, namely chiral conducting polymers. It focuses in particular on examples based on polypyrrole, polythiophene and polyaniline. They possess remarkable properties, combining not only chirality with electrical conductivity but also the ability to undergo facile redox and pH switching. These unique properties have opened up a range of exciting new potential applications, including as chiral sensors, as novel stationary phases for chiral separations, and as chiral electrodes for electrochemical asymmetric synthesis (153 references).